Born to Run Barefoot?

by Chas Gillespie

Two million years ago. Africa. A skinny, long-limbed creature who walks on two legs, can’t sprint, and has no weapons turns away from his under-nourished friends, and runs down a much stronger antelope. Dinner. Over succeeding generations, this creature evolves into one of the best distance runners on the the human being. Yet in the age of modernity, we find ourselves unable to run without more than half of us suffering injury. This book looks at the injury epidemic in running and what the barefoot running movement believes are the causes of injury. It analyzes the best-seller Born to Run, how human evolution has shaped our bodies, how modernity has warped those same bodies, and what barefoot running both got right and wrong. It concludes by giving practical advice to runners from the writer, a 2012 Olympic Trials qualifier in the marathon.

Genres: Nonfiction

47 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2018

Reviews

[Shikhar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly critical study that examines the well popular book "Born to Run" and its author appears to be the target of Chas Gillespie. A rather bare-bones, straightforward critique of the Born to Run book that emphasises how the cults of minimalist or barefoot running are not as superior as they promise to be. The bottom line is to run comfortably and intelligently. There is no universal treatment for persistent injuries or getting quicker. I appreciated how the author approached the topic.

This is not a thorough analysis of barefoot running in general; rather, it is a critical examination of the minimalist/barefoot running.

The book's conclusion has some pretty traditional yet important advice. "Take it easy, stretch, purchase nice shoes, hire a coach."

[Matthew Chaloux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong rebuttal of the minimalistic shoe movement, without being judgmental of it either.

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I needed a book about sport for a reading challenge. This one was available on the Audible Plus catalogue, and looked different.
There were some very interesting points, although there were a few which blurred together and a few which seemed quite repetitive. It hasn't made me any more likely to take up running, but I did like some of the science behind the activity.
Audio narrated by Kaleo Griffith.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty barebones simple critique of the Born to Run book highlighting that the supposed superior claims of the barefoot or minimalist running cult are founded on shallow or faulty grounds. Bottom line: run in what makes you comfortable and run smart. There is no cure all for abiding injuries or becoming faster.

[Marian Leica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fair critical writing addressing a widely acclaimed movement: "Born to Run", successfully proving its point and not much more besides that.

[Hali Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.